John l



(No Model.)

' J. L. GALLAGHER.

SHANK FOR KNOBS OR HANDLES.

No. 444,524. Patented Jan 13, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. GALLAGHER, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIBBLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SHANK FOR KNOBS OR HANDLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,524, dated January 13, 1891.

Application filed May 17; 1890. Serial No. 352,180. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN L. GALLAGHER, a

citizen of the United States, residing in the the attachment of handles to the shanks of tools and like articles. I

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and effective means for attaching a metal shank to a handle formed independent of the shank, but capable of being attached to the shank to form when attached a rigid gras pin g-piece as effective as if formed integral with the shank.

To this end the invention consists of a shank made substantially in two pieces with a central opening extending between the two pieces for the insertion of a key or plug, which when forced into the opening of the shank and between its two parts increases the effective diameter thereof, so that the handle or knob with which the shank is connected is thereby firmly and rigidly held.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a practical embodiment of the invention, Figure l is a side elevation of the improved shank, With its end represented as inserted within an opening in a handle or knob, the key or plug being represented in position to be inserted into the'opening in the shank. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, the key or plug being shown in place and the shank thus firmly secured to the handle. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the shank with each of its operative parts disconnected or separated.

Referring to said drawings, it will be understood that A represents the shank, B the knob or handle to which it is to be connected, and by dotted lines in Fig. 2 G is the usual door-latch spindle to which in some uses the shank is to be connected. The knob or han dle B may be of any of the usual forms and made from any suitable material, provided with a central recess ordepression I), extending from its rear inwardly and of a size adapted to receive the end of the shank when in its collapsed condition. When, however, the handle is formed of a hard material, such as metal or porcelain, this recess will in the first instance be somewhat greater than necessary to receive the end of the shank, so that it may receive a thimble or ring of soft material, such as lead, which, forming a lining to said recess, as indicated by the dotted lines o in Fig. 1, will provide a soft lining to the recess inwhich the shank, as will hereinafter be described, may become embedded.

The shank A is preferably formed of metal, and by reason of its construction may be cast in the usual way, so that an exceedingly cheap article is produced, and, as will hereinafter appear, an article that requires no after manipulation, such as finishing, to immediately adapt it for use. This shank consists of a cylindrical portion 0:, provided with a central opening 01, extending the length of the shank. It is shown as provided with an opening 19 for a screw to connect the shank with some other part-as, for instance, a door-latch spindle C. The central portion a merges into a flange e and thence into an attaching-nose f. This attaching-nose is formed of two pieces, the nose properf and an independent portion g, adapted when assembled with the shank to form substantially a continuation or part of the attaching-nose. The abutting faces of the nose f, with the portion g, are cut away or provided with an incline 71, extending from a point substantially adjacent to the flange e, where it is nearly the entire width of the nose to its outer end, where the incline terminates substantially midway of the diameter of the central opening, so that said central opening in effect has one of its walls and a portion of its two opposite sides removed, as is shown in Fig. 3. The independent portion g of the nose is of a size adapted to form substantially a continuation of the nose or rigid portion of the shank,and is provided with a flat inner surface, so that when it is assembled with the shank it will lie against the inclines h of the nose in the position shown in Fig. l, in which position it, with the nose of the shank, is adapted to be inserted within the recess 1) of the knob or handle. The inner fiat surface of the portion g when in this position forms throughout its length one wall of the central opening (1, as shown in Fig. 2. When assembled in the position shown in Fig. 1, the end of the nose and its independent portion are of its least diameter, so that it can be readily inserted within the recess in the handle; but if the independent portion g is spread or otherwise forced away from its seat against the inclines h it will be seen that it will gradually increase the effective diameter of the end of the shank, so that the handle or knob will be firmly held thereby. This movement of the independent portion g is efiected by means of a plug or key 1', adapted to enter the central opening d and be forced by any suitable tool between the rigid portion of the nose and the independent portion, and in so doing force the one away from the other to tightly bear against the sides of the recess bin the manner shown in Fig. 2, where the plug or key is shown in the position it occupies, having forced or spread the movable portion 9 away from its seat against the inclines h of the rigid portion of the nose. This spreading of the independent portion 9 is in effect produced at its outer and extreme end, so that its inner end still lies substantially in contact with the integral portion of the nose. This movement of the independent portion is in effect a rocking movement, which may be facilitated as well as aided in its assemblage by providing the inner rear end of the independent portion with a pair of knuckles k k, adapted to be received by similar-shaped recesses Z Z at the rear of the inclines h. The rear outer end of the independent portion 9 is also inclined, as at m, so as to permit a greater rocking movementot said portion with respect to the shank. The outer surface of the nose and its independent portion 9 may be provided with prongs or tongues n, more or less pointed, which, when the parts are spread apart by the plug or key, as in Fig. 2, will become embedded in the material forming the knob or handle or forming the thimble or ring 0, lining the recess in said handle, so that the shank is thereby more firmly connected with the handle. The central opening at may obviously be of any shape in cross-section, and the plug of a shape corresponding with that of the opening. The rectangular shape shown is to be desired, as the same opening which receives the end of the latch-spindle c, usually of rectangular shape and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, may also form a means for receiving the plug or key 2', and, while in practice the central opening 61 will extend entirely through the shank from end to end, it is obvious that it may extend from the outer end of the nose rearward a sufficient distance back of the rear end of the independent portion 9 to receive the key and that a smaller opening maybe continued to the end of the shank or to the side of the shank, through which a tool may be inserted to drive the key home to the position shown in Fig. 2. So, too, instead of inserting a key i from either end of the central opening (I of the shank, it may be inserted sidewiseas, for instance, through an opening indicated by dotted lines 0, Fig. 2. Such construction would have advantage, for instance, where the shank forms part of a tool where a central opening, as (1, extending its full length would be impracticable. It is obvious that the same spreading and holding efiect of the shank will be produced if the independent portion 9 be hinged to the shank proper by means of a pintle passing through the knuckles k k of said portion and thence through a projection formed either from the base of the nose f or from the flange e.

From the foregoing it will be seen that an extremely simple structure is provided adapted to be economically made and used and that an effective shank is produced, insuring a rigid attachment of the handle or knob thereto.

What is claimed is- 1. The herein-described shank for handles, the same provided with an attaching-nose of two separable and independent pieces, an opening extending between the two pieces of the nose, and a plug or key adapted to said opening and for spreading the two pieces of the nose apart.

2. The herein-described shank for handles, the sameconsisting of a nose formed integral with the shank and reduced in diameter at its end, an independent portion adapted to be assembled with and form a portion of said nose, and a plug or key for spreading the independent portion from the fixed portion.

3. The herein-described shank for handles, the same consisting of a nose formed intogral with the shank, a central opening extending to the end of the nose, the cut-away or incline h, an independent portion adapted to be assembled with the nose and form a portion thereof and also form one wall of the central opening, and a plug or key adapted to said opening and to force or spread the independent portion from the integral portion of the nose.

4. The herein-described shank for handles, the same consisting of a nose integral therewith, a central opening through the shank, the inclines h, terminating in recesses, an independent portion g, adapted to be assembled with and form part of the nose, having knuckles adapted to extend within said recesses, and a plug or key for forcing or spreading the independent portion from the integral portion of the nose.

In testimony whereof I have set my hand, this 14th day of May, 1890, in the presence of two witnesses.

J Ol-IN L. GALLAGHER.

Witnesses:

W. N. YARD, LOUIS (J. TAYLOR. 

